Chapter 36: Chapter Thirty-Six

Chapter Thirty-Six

Cheng Lingyan had never, from birth to now, seen Old Lady Su's face flush with anger. She was shaken awake by that slap, and also made to feel wronged. At this moment, a misty haze filled her eye sockets, as if a veil of water had been drawn over them, making everything look blurry.

Old Lady Su had liked her since childhood, always treating her with a kind and pleasant expression; speaking of it, she was even better than her own biological granddaughter. But why has everything changed? It seems that ever since Lu Bao'er first came to the Fu Mansion, everything has taken on a different flavor. Is she a fox spirit who has transformed? That would explain how she could lure away the souls of others.

Cheng Lingyan had never hated anyone so much before. She originally thought that Old Lady Su's taking care of a rural woman was sheer nonsense, that she had been overthinking. But now it seems that is not the case.

Old Lady Su has been bewitched, actually striking her own beloved granddaughter's face for the sake of an outsider!

Cheng Lingyan's head buzzed, and it seemed that other ladies of official rank nearby were whispering, wondering if they were laughing at her or talking about her.

So embarrassing!

Cheng Lingyan rushed back to the Ten Fragrance Courtyard, flung herself onto the bed, and burst into tears. She kept the lights burning all night, moving boxes and crates from the storeroom, creating the appearance of preparing to return to the Cheng Clan. She stuffed her favorite purple gauze jacket into a redwood chest, then angrily told her personal maid: 'Since my grandmother won't tolerate me, I might as well go back to the Cheng Clan, so she won't grow to dislike me.'

After she shouted those words, someone naturally relayed them to Old Lady Su. But upon hearing them, Old Lady Su merely placed her hand on the red ruby on her warm forehead, sighed deeply, and said, 'Let her be.'

This remark was beyond everyone's expectations; they had thought that Old Lady Su, in her fury, would have slapped Cheng Lingyan's face and then surely send some treasures to appease her. Instead, Old Lady Su pretended to be deaf and mute, wanting nothing more to do with it. Everyone exchanged glances, each thinking: 'It seems the Ten Fragrance Courtyard is about to undergo a change.'

What Cheng Lingyan feared was not that Old Lady Su would send someone to reprimand her, but that whatever she did, her grandmother would pay no heed. That would show Old Lady Su no longer cared for her, no matter how she jumped about, the other side would not mind. How had it come to this? Cheng Lingyan picked up her belongings, making a move to leave.

Outside the Ten Fragrance Courtyard, the servants keeping her under house arrest stood by. Cheng Lingyan stuck out her neck and said, 'Let me go! I am the eldest legitimate daughter of the main house of the Cheng Clan—who dares to stop me?!'

The servants felt embarrassed, muttering softly: 'But… Old Lady Su has ordered that Miss Cheng may not leave the Ten Fragrance Courtyard.'

"Hmph! You are a servant of the Fu Clan, bound by the Fu Clan's rules. I am a noble daughter of the Cheng Clan—when did it become your place to decide?!"

Cheng Lingyan naturally knew she would be stopped; raising her voice a few times now was merely to show she had no lingering attachment to the Fu Mansion, but Old Lady Su would not allow it.

Since Old Lady Su did not send anyone to win her over, Cheng Lingyan could only try to salvage some face on her own.

Just then, Granny Zhao suddenly arrived, accompanied by Qiuju. The two presented an imposing presence, followed by about ten rough servant women.

Granny Zhao waved her hand and told the rough servant women: 'Go in, lift the things onto the carriage.'

At her command, the fierce-looking servant women rushed into the Ten Fragrance Courtyard, moving those boxes and crates onto the outside carriage with lightning speed.

Cheng Lingyan was only trying to scare people; she never really intended to leave. If she went back to the Cheng Clan in distant Thoroughfare Prefecture, how could it be good? Leaving aside that she had grown up in Jingdu all these years and had become accustomed to its flavors, she had originally come to Jingdu to enjoy blessings. Now, returning in disgrace, how would her emotionless cousins mock her?

Although the Cheng Clan is a noble household, its servant relations are tangled and complex. As an orphan who lost both parents, returning would surely mean being devoured by her uncles, cousins, and elder brothers. The main house's wealth has certainly been carted away; by then she wouldn't even be able to scrape together a dowry.

Thinking of this, Cheng Lingyan shouted in panic: 'What are you doing?! Is there any rule left?! I am a cousin-young lady of the Fu Mansion—how dare you move my things without my order, do you still want your heads?!'

Granny Zhao gave a half-smile, half-frown and chided: 'Oh? This is the Fu Clan! How could the Fu Clan obey the orders of a Cheng Clan young lady, especially when the young lady doesn't even bear the Fu surname? Shouting threats and killings at the Fu Clan's servants—surely that's against the rules!'

Cheng Lingyan, her heart blazing with anger from Granny Zhao's words, suddenly raised her hand and slapped Granny Zhao, shouting: 'You slick-tongued, scheming servant!'

That slap left everyone present stunned; even Granny Zhao didn't react in time, as if Cheng Lingyan had swallowed a bear's heart and leopard's gall to dare strike her! What is she? Even if we ignore that Cheng Lingyan is a false young lady, even a true master might not dare to hit Granny Zhao!

Granny Zhao was assigned to Old Lady Su by the late consort's dying charge; when Old Lady Su was once assassinated, Granny Zhao had blocked a sword for her, barely escaping death. Thus, as long as Granny Zhao does not make a major mistake, she is the head of the servants, unshakable in her position. Even the ladies of each household, upon seeing Granny Zhao, must respectfully call her 'granny'.

What kind of master is Cheng Lingyan, that she dares to lay hands on Granny Zhao?

Granny Zhao, furious, let out a bitter laugh; Qiuju came to her senses and raised her hand to slap the personal maid beside Cheng Lingyan.

With a 'pak-ta' sound, crisp and loud, it struck the person so hard they knelt and sat on the ground.

This sound was Qiuju seeking vengeance for Granny Zhao; the blow landed on the personal maid's face, but the impact fell upon Cheng Lingyan's heart.

How could Cheng Lingyan not know she had committed a grave error? But having spoken her words, taking them back now would inevitably seem like a retreat, showing she feared Granny Zhao. Thus she said indignantly: 'It's all because Granny Zhao had people move my things, so I…'

"No need to say more." Granny Zhao ignored her, her face so cold it could shed ice chips, and she loudly ordered the onlooker servant women: 'Since Miss Cheng longs for her homeland, hurry up and move her belongings; I will myself report to Old Lady Su and have someone send Miss Cheng back to the Cheng Clan in Thoroughfare Prefecture overnight!'

These words left no room for sentiment, as if Cheng Lingyan had presumptuously decided to return as the mistress!

Cheng Lingyan is no fool; she was merely putting on a show—if she truly had to go back, she would not comply!

Thus she thickened her skin and said: 'Who said I have to return to the Cheng Clan?!'

Granny Zhao gave a half-smile, half-frown: 'Oh? Isn't Miss Cheng feeling deeply wronged? Yet now you don't plan to return? Then what were you aiming for by making a fuss all last night, packing your belongings to show the various households and courtyards?'

Cheng Lingyan's face burned, but at this moment she could do nothing; she could only force herself to endure this grievance, whispering: 'I only wanted to take inventory of the items in the boxes and crates, disturbing the aunts of each household and my grandmother—it was my fault. I will now have the maid tidy and put away the belongings, sparing my grandmother the trouble.'

"Hmph." Granny Zhao gave a cold laugh, yet said no more. If Cheng Lingyan today dared to stride out of the Fu Mansion with backbone, she would have praised her for being spirited; but knowing it was merely a blustering front, facing her left a bad taste in one's mouth.

Granny Zhao glanced at Cheng Lingyan, waved to summon the servant women back, and returned to Old Lady Su's courtyard to make her report.

Old Lady Su naturally knew of the incident where Granny Zhao had been slapped by Cheng Lingyan. Upon seeing Granny Zhao, she handed over the palace tribute Snow Flower Cream from her dressing table, saying: 'Use it, alas, truly a karmic entanglement.'

"Thank you, Old Lady Su, for the gift." Granny Zhao accepted the Snow Flower Cream and could not help but continue: 'Old Lady Su, regarding Miss Cheng's matter, you ought to have a plan in mind.'

Old Lady Su did not hide anything from Granny Zhao, and she herself had never imagined that Cheng Lingyan, raised by her, would turn out this way. The affection from her upbringing has been completely worn away; it is time for her to consider letting Lu Bao'er acknowledge her ancestral roots and return, and then transfer Cheng Lingyan back to her original position.

——————Side note——————

I'm a bit worried it's not good... it seems there aren't many recommendation votes or comments... I don't know if everyone likes or dislikes this story...